Mop-wringer



(No Model.)

M. E. PRESCOTT.

MOP WRINGBR. No. 493,340. Patented Mar. 14, 1893.,

i i Mi) 1 3 HI HH 0 a 1 151 \h u UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

MARY E. PRESCOTT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MOP-WRINGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,340, dated March14, 1893.

Application filed July 22,1892. Serial No. 440,853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARY E. PRESCOTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMop-Wringers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for wringing mopspreparatory to using them in cleaning floors, &c.

The object of my invention is to furnish a device of this characterwhich can be easily attached to and removed from an ordinary pail orbucket, and which manufactured separately maybe sold independently ofthe pail or bucket which contains the water to be used.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which-Figure 1, is a side elevation of a bucket partly broken away with mydevice attached thereto. Fig. 2, is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3, isa separate view, which is really a portion of a plan like Fig. 2 to showa special attachment.

In the drawings -A represents a pail or bucket of ordinary construction.

B is a rectangular frame of any suitable metal and provided at eachcorner with a hooked projection 1, adapted to fit over the edge of thepail so as to rigidly support it. At what I term the front of this frameand in bearings formed in its ends, is journaled a roller 2, which ispreferably faced with a sleeve of rubber or other material which willinsure a good frictional contact though it is not shown in the drawings.The end pieces 3,-of the frame are slotted as shown in Fig. 1, so as topermit the sliding roller 4, of similar construction, to slide in suchslot and at the same time to rotate upon its axis. The axis of this lastnamed roller projects beyond the frame and to its ends is secured a bail5, preferably composed of a single piece of wire forming three sides ofa rectangle the ends of which are bent so as to inclose said axis atbothends of the roller. In forming this bail a loop 6, is made at its frontend to which is connected one end of a chain, cord or. wire 7. Thispasses over a sheave 8, j ournaled in the standard 9, secured to theedge of the pail from which it passes downward and is connected to a bar10, moving vertically in guides 11, and bent at right angles at itslower end so as to form a treadle. Pressure on this treadle communicatedthrough the cord and the bail connected thereto will cause the movableroller to travel in its slot until it is in close proximity to the fixedroller. The standard or rod 10, after being pressed down, is restored toits normal condition byacoilspring 12, held between the lower guide forsuch rod and a pin 13, secured to the rod. The mop is passed downthrough and between the roll ers into the water contained in the bucket;the treadle is then depressed bringing the two rollers together so as tosqueeze out the surplus water, when the mop is in condition for use. Assoon the foot is removed from the treadle the spring acts upon the rodaround which it is coiled and throws such rod upward. It will be noticedby reference to Fig. 1, that the main frame which supports the rollersis set at such an angle that, as soon as the treadle is relieved fromthe pressure, the movable roller will slide by its own gravity down theslot, leaving the rollers separated so as to permit of the insertion ofthe mop when it is necessary to use more water.

In order to provide for the free movement of the sliding roller, and toinsure its true contact with the fixed rollers throughout their extent,I provide a guide 14, of the shape shown in Fig. 3, the ends of which,as shown at 15, are riveted to one end of the main frame which supportsthe rollers. The journal or axis of the movable roller passes throughthis guide, and projects beyond it to receive the bail, and the guide isslotted to correspond with the slot in the main frame. The result ofthis construction is that the journal of the movable roller is providedwith two bearings,

the efiect of which is to keep the roller constantly in its properposition; and while, it will ordinarily be found that a guide of thischaracter at one end of the frame will be sufficient, still if desirablea similar guide may be attached to the other end where it will answerthe same purpose.

The advantages of my device as distinguished from others previously usedfor the same purpose will be readily apparent. Instead of providing ametallic base to receive the bucket and to sustain the treadle, and acomplicated system of levers for connecting the treadle to the rollers,my device consists simply of a frame carrying both rollers and adaptedto be attached to the upper edge of any bucket, and consequently to bemanufactured and sold independently of the bucket, and as a separatearticle.

Near the bottom of the bucket I place a diaphragm or false bottomcomposed either of sheet metal perforated or of wire gauze as may bepreferred. The oject of this is to permit the sediment and otherimpurities in the water to settle to the bottom of the pail and toprevent them from being stirred up by the action of the mop in thewater.

What I claim is 1. In combination, with the frame B, having a stationaryroller and a sliding roller journaled therein, a vertically sliding, rodsecured in the guideways, a coiled spring surrounding the rod and heldbetween the lower guide way and a pin on the lower rod, a treadle formedon the lower end of this rod, a bail on the sliding roller, and flexibleconnections between the upper end of the rod and the bail, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination with the frame B, having a stationary and a slidingroller, of abail connected to the journals of said slidingroller,

a sheave or pulley, a treadle and a cord or go chain passing over saidsheave and connecting the treadle to the said bail, whereby thedepression of the treadle Will cause the roller to travel in the frameand approach the stationary roller, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination, the frame B having a stationary roller journaledtherein, a sliding roller journaled in slots in the frame, a guide piece14 having its ends rigidly connected to the frame and provided withaslot extending parallel with the slot of the frame and adapted to forma supplemental sliding bearing for the movable roller and means foroperating said roller, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of. twowitnesses, this 21st day of June, 1892.

MARY E. PRESCOTT.

Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY, M. R. BRYAN.

